UC East Dedication - A Celebration of the Transformative Power of Education

Transformation and collaboration were the prevailing themes for the dedication ceremony of UC East - the newest educational facility for the University of Cincinnati located in the former Ford Plant in Batavia.

UC President Gregory Williams praised the accomplishments of the community leaders in coming together to help secure the location that is now UC East. “The opening of UC East is the result of true collaboration among UC, the State of Ohio, Clermont County and Batavia Township Trustees and the developer, IRG. Internally at UC as well, this is a result of collaboration, with UC East involving three UC colleges and deans, nine departments, 800 students and 40 faculty and staff members,” said President Williams.

For three years the former Ford plant that once employed 1,400 people and was a thriving economic driver in Batavia sat empty - serving as a reminder of the slack economy. The transformation process began earlier this year when the 1.9 million square-foot facility was acquired by private developer Industrial Realty Group LLC on April 1, 2010. UC signed on as the first tenant leasing the 81,000 square-foot office space for five years with an option to purchase. 

“In the past this building was a place of opportunity and prosperity for families in this region. Then it became a symbol for failure and abandonment. The lights were off and the parking lot was empty. Today the lights are back on and the facility has been transformed into state of the art classrooms, labs and faculty staff offices,” said Dean of UC Clermont College Gregory Sojka.

Collaboration within the community to revive the empty manufacturing plant was key in the multi-tiered development deal that was approved via the county, township and state levels. As was collaboration within the university.

UC’s Clermont College is occupying the first floor offering Allied Health programs and UC’s College of Nursing and the College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services (CECH) are occupying the second floor offering high-demand nursing and paralegal and criminal justice classes. For the community – this means a student can attain an associate and/or bachelor degree from UC without ever leaving Clermont County. 

 “We are pleased that we are in the sixth year of the collaborative partnership with Clermont College to offer the complete four-year bachelor of science in nursing program. The positive synergy between Clermont and the College of Nursing played a vital part in the success of this collaboration,” said College of Nursing Dean Andrea Lindell. 

“We’re so excited to be collaborating with UC Clermont to bring bachelor’s degrees to students in this region,” said CECH Dean Larry Johnson.

The day’s celebration was highlighted by participation of the UC Pep band, directed by Terren Frenz and the Bearcat Mascot greeting guests to the new facility along with a giant Bearcat presiding over on the site.

Flying over the event were two Cessna Sky Hawks - the primary training aircraft used in the Aviation Technology: Professional Pilot Training Program based at UC Clermont College and the Clermont County Airport.

The airplanes were piloted by first year aviation students Chip Hais and Ryan Kranich under the supervision of instructors Eric Schabell and Rick Hoofring. 

More information about UC East